Manchester Science Festival, Manchester

This accessible celebration of scientific wonder features plenty of oddball fun to please all generations. Among the main attractions is Walking With Robots, a series of events featuring artificial intelligence in the form of Bridget the Mars Rover, a RoboThespian, a sweet-toothed computer and an animatronic butterfly as well as an all-robot football match. Elsewhere, Helen Keen mixes stand-up comedy and rocket science, Eoin Colfer discusses his Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy sequel and Richard Wiseman works out a formula for good luck. The many free events include a gaggle of lab-coated scientists busking in the Trafford Centre with the aid of sumo wrestlers and a giant whoopee cushion.

The Bigger Picture Festival Of Interdependence, London

Bringing a dash of popular culture to the field of economics and the environment, this festival is the brainchild of independent think tank the New Economics Foundation and includes a mix of talks, film, art and networking opportunities. Speakers include environmental campaigner Bianca Jagger, Idler editor Tom Hodgkinson, and writers Oliver James and Rosie Boycott, although there are plenty of political thinkers and actual economists on hand too. The focus is on climate change, so you can expect plenty of tips on carbon reduction, living off-grid, tending your beehive and knitting your own currency, plus a chance to sit and share cake with the Ministry Of Trying To Do Something About It.

Great Street Games, Gateshead, Sunderland & Middlesbrough

Great Street Games

This event sets itself up with something of a geographical and technical challenge, with its series of interactive outdoor games taking place in three north-east locations simultaneously over four nights. Created with the aid of lights and thermal imaging technology from artists KMA, the games kick off as the sun goes down and those at the outdoor locations get to compete against the other towns and cities in the name of local pride. The games – which repeat in 10-minute cycles and are open to everyone – become more complex as the night goes on and the courts, which are made from light projections, should see plenty of action in 90-second bursts of activity.

FSO4 Freeze Festival, London

Following the success of its 2008 debut, the London Freeze festival returns to the Battersea Power Station, kick-starting winter with a three-day instalment of all things icy. For the adrenaline junkies, highlights include the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup, with six-time champion Stefan Gimpl among this year's riders. Should you prefer life on two blades, the festival also plays host to the International Freestyle Ski competition. In addition to bearing witness to some of the world's best winter sports events, festival goers will be treated to live music and DJ sets from the likes of Orbital, Pendulum, Audio Bullys and the Eagles Of Death Metal, and there's always the option of climbing into a small metal cage for a reverse bungee jump.

White Night, Brighton

Brighton and Hove White Night

For 24-hour culture minus the louts, head to Brighton tonight for after-hours animation, guerrilla gardening, baroque music, jam making, skateboard workshops and a "magical mystery tour to decorate a building with thrown light". The city's White Night celebrates the turning of the clocks with a post-twilight marathon of (mostly free) installations, trails and outdoor shows in a range of unusual locations. Try your hand at late-night life drawing, swim to splashy cinema, and have your fortune told by a walking penny arcade. Plus there's a Victorian sewer tour for those who prefer something less refined.

Illuminating York, York

Transforming York after dark, the Illuminating York festival offers an eclectic mix of light installations, turning the historic facades of ancient structures into a canvas of colourful experimentation. Headliners Bright Light bring to life a wilderness of predators and their prey with their audio-visual installation Vespertine, and, as part of the build-up to the 2012 Games, the festival provides a chance to experience the interactive, Olympics-inspired 5Circles by KMA and Pilot Theatre.